“Peace and stability are prerequisites for food security, and the right to food is a basic human right,”, he stressed.
The Strait of Hormuz – a vital bottleneck for global trade – typically carries about a quarter of the world’s seaborne oil, along with significant volumes of natural gas and fertilizers.
But shipping traffic has plummeted almost 95 percent since late February, delaying millions of tons of fertilizer shipments and causing sharp price increases.
“He The crop calendar is essential to understanding the urgency of the fertilizer crisis.”Mr Qu warned, noting that supply delays could lead to permanent losses in agricultural production.
The FAO chief said the crisis is already driving up food prices, squeezing farmers’ margins and threatening to deepen hunger, particularly in import-dependent countries.
Lebanon and Yemen are among those most at risk, and hundreds of thousands already face acute food insecurity.
Diplomatic efforts continue
At the same time, UN efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis continue.
The Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Jean Arnault, has been engaging with regional governments following his visits to Iran, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Egypt, as well as participating in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Türkiye.
He The envoy “remains available to support all efforts” aimed at helping the parties reach a comprehensive solution.including the ongoing initiative being carried out by Pakistan in cooperation with Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric told reporters in New York.
The alarm continues in Gaza and the West Bank
Meanwhile, at the Security Council, Under-Secretary-General Khaled Khiari warned ministers and ambassadors that “Away from the spotlight, the situation in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is steadily worsening..”
He said the people of Gaza continue to face “continued, deadly Israeli attacks and dire humanitarian conditions,” while in the West Bank, escalating violence, displacement and settlement activity are “threatening entire communities and further eroding prospects for a political process” based on a two-state solution.
According to the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, an 18-hour Israeli operation in and around the Qalandiya camp in the West Bank involved Large-scale searches, arrests and movement restrictions, resulting in injuries, property damage and temporary displacement.. Access to schools, clinics and ambulance services was also disrupted.
In Gaza, UN agencies and humanitarian partners continue to operate under severe limitations.. While some support is being received, only 296 of the 683 health service points (hospitals, field hospitals and primary health care centers) are functioning, and only 23 are fully operational.
Between April 20 and last Sunday, 104 patients were medically evacuated through the Rafah crossing.
Lebanon crisis persists
In Lebanon, the situation remains precarious despite the ceasefire with Israel.
Almost 115,000 people remain sheltered in collective sitesand many others remain displaced or unable to return to their homes due to restrictions in place in some parts of the south.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), six hospitals and dozens of primary health care centers remain closed, and almost 150 attacks on healthcare have been recorded since the beginning of March.
UN Special Coordinator Jeanine Hennis-Plaschaert has been working with Israeli officials to promote stability along the Blue Line, highlighting the need to “end recurring cycles of violence and pave the way for lasting stability,” according to UN spokesperson Dujarric.
“We and our partners provide assistance where we can,” He said, noting that around 130 partners are providing assistance, including shelter, medical care and drinking water, but access limitations and damage to infrastructure continue to hamper efforts.
Global ripple effects
Beyond the immediate region, the crisis is impacting global supply chains, a new dashboard from the United Nations trade and development body (UNCTAD) shows.
As sea routes remain restricted, countries are increasingly turning to land corridors to maintain the movement of goods. The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) has launched an online observatory to help coordinate cross-border transportation across the Gulf region.
The platform provides real-time information on border crossings and customs procedures as governments adopt land routes for food, medicine and other essential supplies.
“In this morning’s meeting it was highlighted that the transport routes between Türkiye and the Gulf last approximately four days, which is much shorter than by sea“said Jean Rodríguez of ECE, noting that obstacles remain in the availability of trucks, drivers and visa problems.
Traffic has shifted to key land corridors, including routes linking Türkiye and the Gulf States and through Saudi Arabia, and container volumes through the port of Jeddah have increased significantly.